SATURDAY: I finally found a home for one of the scenes Z had written out. It took some doing to work it back into the storyine, but everything fits just right now. Also, working with the new guys gives the readers a little more insight into how Navy personnel interact; Z was Army, so we got a lot of that. I was Navy, so we're going to get some of that (not quite as much as the Army stuff, though, so don't panic) and I think everyone will enjoy it. And here's this weekend's snippet:

"You're a tricky little minx if ever I saw one," said Brewster. "Still don't know what to fuckin' make of you."

Trev slapped him hard on the shoulder. "Leave her be. She's all right."

"Hey, I have talents," Juni said, spreading her arms wide. "Want to know how to say 'fuck you' in Russian? How about in French? Japanese? German? Oh, I know. How about Farsi?"

"What in the blue fuck is a Farsi?" Brewster asked, strapping Kevlar body armor across his chest and checking to make sure the fit was right. Ah, Brewster. What a way with words you have.

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JBK
Dec 09, 2009 at 10:18 AM
========================
"Something my granddad used to tell us. You know Macumba? Voodoo. My granddad was a priest in Trinidad. He used to tell us, "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth."

Good news! The family has okayed the use of the story Z told about his grandfather in WWII. I've found a suitable place for it in the storyline, and it should rock.

Worked feverishly on Chapter Three, establishing something that was in the undertone of the manuscript but not brought out, and I think that lacking it kind of undermined General Sherman. I won't say what it is, but several people have brought it up in the Homework thread, so it's safe to say that it won't catch anyone by surprise.

The PDFs of books 1 and 2 came in really handy again, looking at Sergeant Major Thomas. I have two words: skullfuck palace. I love that man.

In other writing news, I've submitted my own novel to Permuted after the long, cold winter of their being closed for novel submissions. Wish me luck!

In some personal news, I'll be headed home tomorrow and I plan to take some days off from everything when I get there. Wednesday's update will be the last until Friday, or maybe Saturday.

Good news! The family has okayed the use of the story Z told about his grandfather in WWII. I've found a suitable place for it in the storyline, and it should rock.

Worked feverishly on Chapter Three, establishing something that was in the undertone of the manuscript but not brought out, and I think that lacking it kind of undermined General Sherman. I won't say what it is, but several people have brought it up in the Homework thread, so it's safe to say that it won't catch anyone by surprise.

The PDFs of books 1 and 2 came in really handy again, looking at Sergeant Major Thomas. I have two words: skullfuck palace. I love that man.

In other writing news, I've submitted my own novel to Permuted after the long, cold winter of their being closed for novel submissions. Wish me luck!

In some personal news, I'll be headed home tomorrow and I plan to take some days off from everything when I get there. Wednesday's update will be the last until Friday, or maybe Saturday.

Everything about this post is solid. Give yourself a high-five for me, Spectre.

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JBK
Dec 09, 2009 at 10:18 AM
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"Something my granddad used to tell us. You know Macumba? Voodoo. My granddad was a priest in Trinidad. He used to tell us, "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth."

WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY: Yeah. I just got a look at my schedule for when I get home, and it doesn't look like another real update until Monday. So. Wordcounts updated, new scenes added and compared to scenes in books 1 and 2 for consistency. More zombie wickedness added. I know, the big threat now is people, but they're still in a dead city. And Saturday's teaser; say hello to QM3 Allen:

Rico and Hillyard sat, watching Wendell and the deckhands play a round of Spades at another table. Allen was drunk, teetering on the back two wheels of a bar stool and doing a surprisingly good job of it. Stiles sat behind him on the floor, his legs out in front of him and watching the balancing act. The crew sat in a pretty wide circle of townsfolk...not exactly hostile, and not exactly unwelcoming, but the news of Stiles' condition had definitely changed the tone of the pub when the group had returned. Ron and Katie were making the rounds, saying their goodbyes.

"I think I can take four," said Jones, looking intently (if a little drunkenly) at his hand of thirteen cards.

"Five more," said Wendell, his eyes closed and looking up at the ceiling. He'd played more hands of Spades than any other sailor on the Ramage, definitely more than all of the deck hands put together.

"Alright!" shouted Allen from his stool. "Nine for Wendell and JOOONES!"

"Three," whispered Stiles from the floor.

"Three," said Smith, who had made the same bid for the last ten games. His partner Brown groaned and Jones laughed.

"God damn it," Brown said. "Do you even know how to play this game? Every fucking time, three tricks, you sandbagging motherfucker. After this hand," he slammed his cards on the table, face down, "we are swapping partners."

__________________====
JBK
Dec 09, 2009 at 10:18 AM
========================
"Something my granddad used to tell us. You know Macumba? Voodoo. My granddad was a priest in Trinidad. He used to tell us, "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth."

Wow thank the GODS I have been trying to find out if the third book was even going to come out. I was crushed when Zach died, the world has so few" bright spots" these days" As long as it is being written I can wait the job must be unbelievably hard, I would rather wait a little while and have a book that feels right rather than something slapped together just to get it out there. It shows how much his friends and family cared for him and his fans that they have taken up this project at all. Much love and respect.__________________GonzoMac

Originally Posted by PotentialSpectreMONDAY: I took the weekend off. And it was good. Instead of writing, I watched The Phantom, with Billy Zane and Kristy Swanson, and The Warriors. Time well spent.

Just make sure that you do a lot of research. Mr. Recht was good at that; which is why I love his books so much. I read World War Z by Max Brooks which was a good book. The only problem with his book was that didn't do any research. Zombies can not live under water and they can not be frozen and thawed out again and just be fine. It just isn't realistic (because we all know the zombies will come some day...)

I am so happy that the series is being finished, I have no doubt in my mind that Z was loved by all and it is fitting that the series shall be finished in honor of him.

*one thing I wouldn't mind seeing is more non military issue weapons. This is after the SHTF and I bet people are more likely to find Ruger 10/22's and Mosin Nagant's than they are finding Military issue M16's in great working condition this far after the rising.

MONDAY: Got over my jet-lag and dove right back into it. Pumped up some unfinished scenes and polished up others. Mostly, though, I worked on linearizing the timeline of the manuscript, since returning scenes took some of it out of order. Hard to believe that the story taking place in Thunder and Ashes is only months after Plague of the Dead. Population centers destroyed in a matter of weeks! And lest ye forget, Sherman's little band of merry men standardized their munitions before leaving Abraham.

TUESDAY: Worked something into a scene in an early chapter for use later, placement for Z's gramps WWII story. Also working on something that will show off Brewster's tougher side, the part of him that got him considered for Ranger training in the first place. Finished up a different short story for another thing...working in some "me" time, hah.

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